Haruko sat at the edge of the low dining table, her fingers gently resting against the rim of her empty glass. The remnants of curry sauce still clung faintly to the sides of the plates in front of them, the faint scent of spice lingering in the air. Her stomach felt warm and satisfied, and a gentle calm hung in the air between the three of them.
"This has been a very nice experience for me, and the dinner you made was really delicious. Thank you, Tetsuo."
Haruko turned toward him, her shoulders easing as a small, relaxed smile formed. Her breath steadied, the warmth from the meal still lingering in her chest.
Tetsuo stacked the dishes with quiet, steady movements, each plate touching gently without extra noise. He glanced toward her, his expression the same as always, and gave a small nod.
"It wasn't anything difficult. I usually cook this for us, so making a little more was fine."
Haruko folded her hands in front of her, letting a faint smile pull at her lips.
"Dinner was really good… and it felt nice. It was kind of like we were a small family for a moment."
Usagi looked between Haruko and Tetsuo, her feet swaying lightly under the table. Her shoulders relaxed, and her voice carried an easy warmth as she smiled brightly.
Haruko blinked the moment the words reached her, heat rising across her cheeks.
Family… does she mean Tetsuo as the father, me as the mother, and her as the child?
Her fingers tightened slightly against her skirt as her heartbeat picked up. She shook her head quickly, her breath catching for a moment.
No… that's not what she meant. I'm thinking too much.
Across the table, Usagi wiped her mouth with a napkin, her eyes bright as she leaned forward slightly.
"You should come over whenever you can, Haruko. I really like being with you."
"I don't mind at all. I'll come by whenever I have some time."
Haruko's smile returned, settling more naturally as her shoulders loosened and the tension on her face eased.
Tetsuo stood and stepped into his sandals by the door, tightening the back strap with quiet, steady movements.
"I'll walk you home. It's already dark, and you stayed here because of us."
"Okay… thank you, Kawaguchi."
Haruko stood and slipped her feet into her school shoes at the door, adjusting the heel with a small, careful movement. Her posture straightened as she prepared to leave.
"Lock the door until I return, Usagi."
He spoke without turning, his hand resting briefly on the frame before stepping out.
"Roger that, big brother," she answered from inside with a small smile in her voice, the words fading as the front door clicked shut behind them.
Inside, Usagi stayed frozen for a moment, eyes fixed on the door he'd just stepped through. The soft hum of the refrigerator filled the tiny room. Slowly, she drew her knees together and wrapped her arms around them, her chin resting lightly on top.
There's something about that girl that makes Tetsuo act different… even more than with me.
Usagi pressed her knees tighter to her chest, the quiet hum of the refrigerator steady in the background.
She even knew what kind of gift he'd like, and because of her he took a step forward.
Her lips pushed into a small pout.
I can't even say the hug was because of me… it was all thanks to her. He hardly talks unless he has to, but with her…
Her fingers curled against her legs.
…I wonder… does he like her?
Outside, the air was cool but not uncomfortably so. A soft breeze passed between the houses, rustling the leaves. Streetlights cast pale golden circles along the sidewalk, and the moon hung low and bright above the rooftops.
"The moonlight really makes the sky bright tonight, and the stars look beautiful."
Haruko walked beside Tetsuo with her arms folded behind her back, the cool night air brushing against her sleeves.
"Yeah. It really is."
Tetsuo spoke after a short pause, his eyes steady on the path ahead while Haruko tilted her head toward the sky.
"My sister seems to like you. I wonder what you did to make her open up."
His tone stayed flat, their footsteps steady in the cool night air.
"Well, I don't think it was anything special."
Haruko brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her steps easing a little.
"I just helped her choose some gifts for you and walked her home."
"I see."
Tetsuo's voice stayed quiet without feeling dismissive. His gaze lowered, following the uneven patterns of the sidewalk under their feet.
A few moments passed, filled only with the soft shuffle of their steps and the light rustling from the trees along the path. Haruko glanced at him from the corner of her eye. Her hands stayed clasped behind her back, her fingers moving slightly as she fidgeted.
"Hey… Tetsuo. Do you remember when we first met on the court that morning?"
Her voice stayed calm, carrying a small sense of intention as she looked ahead.
"Yeah."
Tetsuo's tone stayed flat. He gave her a short sideways glance, then looked forward again as they walked under a streetlight that spread a soft amber glow across the path.
Haruko's fingers brushed lightly against the hem of her skirt, her steps slowing a little.
"That day, I was really upset. I felt like I couldn't do basketball at all."
Her voice carried a small trace of vulnerability.
"No matter how many times I tried, I could only make a few shots. Then you came and showed me how to shoot, and I finally understood it that day."
She smiled at the memory, her eyes catching the light from the streetlamps. The distant chirping of crickets settled into the silence between their steps.
"I just want you to know… I'm really grateful for what you did for me. You changed my life in a good way."
"It wasn't anything special. I just pointed out the simple mistakes and fixed them."
Tetsuo's tone stayed calm and straightforward, his eyes steady on the path ahead.
Haruko glanced at him, her expression steady before a small smile formed.
"Well, it was special for me and my team. It will be important for us this coming season."
Her voice sounded more earnest than before as she drew in a quiet breath, her shoulders tightening a little.
"You might not think much of it, but it meant a lot to us."
They walked quietly for a few more seconds. The streetlights flicked on one after another, giving the sidewalk a faint amber glow. From a main road a few blocks away, the low hum of passing cars reached them. A light wind moved their hair.
"I played a practice match yesterday, and we won because of what you taught me."
Haruko's voice carried a proud note, mixed with a small sense of disbelief.
"I was really happy I could help my team this time. I even scored eighteen points, and the game ended fifty-three to forty-four. My coach was really happy with how I played, and my teammates trust me as their captain now."
Her steps picked up slightly.
"It's all thanks to you."
"I wasn't the one who played that game. It was you. But… if you say so, then… yeah."
A small breath left Tetsuo.
Haruko's voice softened, almost carried away by the light breeze.
"Um… Tetsuo, can I ask you something?"
Her hands lowered to her sides, one gripping the hem of her sleeve and tugging it gently between her fingers.
Tetsuo kept his eyes forward.
"And what would that be?"
Haruko's steps slowed, her shoulders drawing in a little as the wind moved lightly through her hair.
"Um… is it just me… or does it feel like this isn't the first time we met?"
Her voice thinned, almost too quiet for the empty street.
Her fingers tightened on her sleeve, tugging it once.
"…I don't know why, but… it feels like I've known you for a long time."
Her gaze dropped for a moment.
"Or maybe… did we meet somewhere before… a long time ago…?"
Tetsuo's gaze narrowed slightly, her words drawing something quiet inside him. His steps slowed, the edge of his sandals brushing softly against the gravel.
"Who knows. It might be true."
His voice stayed calm, almost unreadable.
"The feeling you give off… it reminds me of someone I met a long time ago. But their name and face… I can't recall them anymore."
A faint pause followed.
Haruko turned to him, hope flickering in her eyes. Her heart gave a sudden thump in her chest.
"Oh, so you also feel that we—"
Her words cut off as her foot caught the edge of a raised log sticking out from the dirt beside the sidewalk. Her ankle twisted, leaning her forward.
"Ah—!"
Her arms flailed as she tried to steady herself.
Tetsuo moved on instinct, reaching a hand toward her, but at the same moment his own foot struck the same obstruction. His balance slipped from under him.
They stumbled forward together, the ground rushing up.
They hit the patchy grass and uneven dirt in a soft crash. Tetsuo let out a low grunt, catching part of the fall with his hands. Haruko landed on her back, the cool earth pressing through her thin shirt. The faint scent of crushed grass and dry soil rose around them.
"Ouch… that really hurt."
Haruko blinked up at the slowly darkening sky, her breath leaving in short, uneven puffs. She winced as she shifted against the ground, the cool dirt pressing lightly against her back.
"Are you okay, Takahashi?"
Tetsuo held himself up with his hands planted on the ground beside her shoulders. His weight stayed off her, but he hovered close—almost too close.
Haruko blinked quickly. He was right above her. His elbows were only a short distance from her arms, and his face was close enough that she could catch the faint scar above his left eyebrow and the gentle shape of his mouth. Warmth came from his body, and the light scent of sweat and fabric softener reached her, making her chest tighten.
"I'm okay… don't worry about me."
Her voice trembled a little as her cheeks warmed into a deep red, her eyes flicking away from him for a moment.
Tetsuo pushed himself up right away and brushed the dirt from his palms. He extended a hand toward her, silent and steady.
Haruko paused for a moment before taking it. Her fingers were a little cold and shaking as they closed around his. He pulled her up gently, and she quickly patted the back of her skirt and her elbows, shaking off the dirt clinging to the fabric.
Her thoughts stumbled over themselves.
Our lips were really close… it nearly stopped my breath.
Haruko brought the back of her hand up to her mouth, her fingers pressing softly against her lips as she tried to steady her breathing. Her heartbeat pounded in uneven pulses, and she tightened her jaw for a moment, gently biting the inside of her cheek to calm the restless feeling spreading through her chest.
"...You okay?"
Tetsuo's eyes shifted to her face, watching her closely.
Haruko lifted her hand in a small, brushing motion, her face warm and her breath unsteady as it slipped through her nose.
"Y-Yes… I'm okay. Really…" The words came out soft, her lips tightening for a moment.
She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a faint whisper.
Come on, Haruko… get yourself together. It was just an accident. He didn't mean anything by it.
"Haruko? Is that you? Why are you outside at this time? It's already late."
A voice drifted from the path ahead, the sound cutting through the quiet street.
Haruko turned toward the voice, her shoulders tightening as the wind moved the ends of her uniform.
"Oh… it's you, Sachiko."
Sachiko stepped out from the narrow alleyway between the two residential blocks. A garbage bag in hand and a light cardigan rested over her uniform, and her shoes made a quiet tap against the pavement with each step.
As she approached, her eyes moved toward the figure standing beside Haruko.
Sachiko's brows lifted in clear surprise as her attention settled on him.
"Oh, Kawaguchi, I didn't know you lived around here."
Haruko shifted her stance, turning her legs to face them both. Her eyes widened a little with sudden awareness.
"Wait… how do you know him?"
Tetsuo's eyes widened for a brief moment before his expression settled back into its usual stillness.
"Oh. I see. I didn't really think about it. She's your sister, right, Takahashi?"
Haruko drew a slow breath, her fingers brushing lightly against her skirt.
"Yes… she's my older sister."
Sachiko tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. Her arms crossed in a relaxed way, but her chest felt tight.
Why are they alone together? And why does Tetsuo talk to her so easily, but treats me so coldly?
A small sting spread up her back as the thought formed.
Sachiko shifted her weight onto one leg, her gaze moving between them.
"So, what are the two of you doing out here so late?"
Haruko's eyes shifted away, her fingers brushing the side of her thigh as if steadying herself.
"I… went to his place earlier with his younger sister. It got late, so he came to walk me home."
Sachiko's eye twitched, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
Wait… what? She was at his house? Since when were they this close?
Sachiko straightened her posture, the corners of her mouth lifting into a polite smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Thank you for walking my sister. I'll take it from here, okay, Kawaguchi?"
Without another word, Tetsuo turned and started walking away. The back of his shirt shifted faintly with each step, his figure growing smaller under the streetlights as his footsteps faded into the quiet path.
Haruko and Sachiko walked side by side, the only sounds between them now the scuff of their shoes and the wind pushing past the trees.
Sachiko kept her gaze slightly lowered, her hands resting at her sides with a small tremble in her fingers.
"Haruko, there's something you should know."
Sachiko drew in a quiet breath, her eyes lifting just enough to meet Haruko's.
"Do you remember Tetsu-kun… the little boy we found walking around with nothing but a worn-out basketball and his little sister?"
Haruko stopped in her tracks, the memories rushing back all at once. Her eyes slowly widened.
"…Yeah. I remember."
The same boy who made me fall in love with basketball… I've carried that memory for so long. But if Tetsuo Kawaguchi is him, then why does he feel so distant? So changed? Their personalities don't even resemble each other. I can't tell anymore…
"Wait… so you are saying Tetsuo is the boy we met years ago?"
Haruko's voice rose before she could stop it, the sound tight in her throat. Her heartbeat thudded hard against her chest as she turned toward her sister, her breath catching for a moment.
Sachiko looked back at her with a quiet, solemn expression, her lips drawing into a thin line.
"…I am not certain. But the possibility is there."
Her voice was steady, but a faint tension lingered in the space between them.